It depends on direction. In the mornings from Shinjuku towards Iidabashi and Kuramae and from Daimon toward Shinjuku (the route you'll be taking), it's usually not too crowded in my experience. From Hikarigaoka to Shinjuku and on to Roppongi (and from Iidabashi to Shinjuku) it can be pretty crowded, though not to the degree of other lines (like the Ginza, Marunouchi, or Tozai lines).

Yep, it's all about direction. The Oedo commute from Hikarigaoka in the morning is brutal; I live on the line and avoid it in the morning as much as possible. There may not be as many people as there are on the Ginza Line, but the train is much smaller so it feels just as jam-packed (too crowded to get your phone out of your pocket most of the time). OTOH, it is basically never crowded on the north side between Shinjuku and Iidabashi/Ueno.

For a while I was taking the Tozai Line eastbound in the morning, from Nakano toward Nihonbashi. The through trains from the Chuo Line are usually packed, but the trains originating at Nakano are never particularly crowded and you can often get a seat at Ochiai or even Takadanobaba (where a bunch of Waseda people usually get on, and then get right back off at the next stop). These trains basically alternate, so if you get a crowded train at Nakano, Ochiai, or Takadanobaba, it's simply a matter of waiting a couple of minutes for the next one. Lots of variances in the system like this, IME.

I would prefer not to do this since I have a lunch reservation at Kozue inside the Park Hyatt at noon. However, I do appreciate the suggestion. I think my plan is to just go ahead and get to Daimon by 7:30 at the latest and just hope for the best on the Oedo Line. If it already seems insane when at Hamamatsucho/Daimon, then I'll go ahead and use a coin locker and just come back after lunch for my bag.

Thanks for all the input, people.

Or just take your time at the lounge so you're at Daimon around 9:00 AM. By then it should be much better. Or, get to Daimon, put your bag in a locker and check out Zojoji and the area sights for a bit before proceeding. You can even walk to Tsukiji or something.

Why not take the bus from HND to the Park Hyatt? It's a few hundred yen more, but it saves you the potential hassle of sardine trains as well as the hike from Shinjuku to the hotel.

http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/pla...hes/index/4/21

Take a taxi.

> the hike from Shinjuku to the hotel.

None of the options suggest that OP hike from Shinjuku. Tochomae station to Park Hyatt is easily walkable, although I'd agree that the bus might be more convenient if you're not in a hurry, since you're guaranteed a seat.

Probably going to end up doing this and hadn't considered the bus at all prior to the suggestion. Thanks! ^